Live Gig Review! – Cage The Elephant @ Manchester Academy 2 – 03/10/11

For the second time in six days I'm at Manchester's Academy 2 to come see a kick-ass rock n' roll band. The weather's holding up nicely, with England still getting the last few rays of sun from the preceding weekend's late summer flourish of good weather. The gig's sold out, and everyone's dressed like they're ready to hit Newquay beach.

The atmosphere inside the academy is fantastic, with the very, and I mean very, young crowd looking and sounding enthusiastic for tonight's show. Providing support are Brit band 'Dinosaur Pile-Up', who's very heavy rock sound work's well in getting the crowd pumped for the main event. Their half-hour whisks along quickly with no fuss and they've teed the crowd up perfectly. A one to watch for the future one could easily argue. But that's not why everyone's here. We want to see the what the other side of the Atlantic has to offer.

At approximately 9.30pm, Cage The Elephant come on and come out swinging. They keep the lively pace set by Dinosaur Pile-Up by opening up with one of their biggest songs, 'In One Ear'. It's a damn fine start and the crowd are loving it. They then hit in to some new material from second LP 'Thank You, Happy Birthday'. '2024' and 'Aberdeen' hit one after another and they're sounding great, if a little slower and much different in tone than their self-titled débuts tracks. However there is plenty to admire from said début, with 'Tiny Little Robots', 'Lotus' and 'Back Against The Wall' all getting an airing. The band race through their set in next to no time, with front-man Matt Schultz saying relatively little to the crowd throughout other than to thank them here and there. However as we come to the end, the band unsurprisingly save their biggest singles for last. 'Ain't No Rest For The Wicked' gets the biggest cheer of the night, while last single 'Shake Me Down' brings the crowd back down to end their normal set.

Then something very baffling happens. The band go off for the obligatory three minutes to come back on for their encore. Which lasts all of three minutes while they play 'Sabretooth', after which they just leave. It's is a little disappointing because A) who does a one-song encore? And B) even with the encore break and song, their entire set-list only lasts one hour. A bit on the short side for a band with two albums worth of material to perform. However at £12.50 a ticket, it's hard to complain that much.

Still, Cage The Elephant are a good band, pure and simple. There is no denying the fact their brand of American rock n' roll is anything but a joy to behold. But a lack of showmanship and short set-list is a little disappointing, and you feel they just need that little bit more to become a truly must-see band. Still, a very entertaining band who are still worth checking out for a very little asking price.

3/5

Live Gig Review - Osale Rooms Warrington 09/09/11

On a wonderfully warm Autumn Friday night, Osale Rooms (formally the legendary WA1 club to Warrington indie-folk), re-opened to the public with aplomb. And it was on fire to all that could see. Quite literally in fact, as the club decided to opt for a circus-themed gala, with fire-breathers and jugglers greeting you at the club’s entrance. Garish dress-sense was positively encouraged. So with the theatrics and décor sorted, could the bands on show offer some sure-fire entertainment?

After getting the club nice and packed, opening band The Stocks were first on to please a hot and heavy crowd. And they did not disappoint, even if the onsite PA system decided to have a hissy-fit of Elton John proportions. It caused technical hitches left, right and centre for the whole night. Still, true champions perform with their backs to the wall, and The Stocks delivered. Tunes like ‘Bring The Light’ and ‘Lure of The Cure’ got the crowd warmed up for a night of rock n’ roll debauchery. A definite highlight.
4/5


The same cannot be said however for Warrington favourites and most-promising band, Exile Parade. The music and vocals was spot on, but the song choices were not. Exile Parade have some amazing tunes that are 3 minute, in-yer-face rock beauties which are a joy to behold. Then there are others which are of a slower staple, equally as good mind, but designed for big open stages, and not for rooms crammed with a hundred people in them. Too much of their set was devoted to these longer epics and it didn’t come off well. Also, what the hell their guitarist at the end was doing I will never know, as he decided to go a bit Pete Townsend on the equipment. Kicking your instruments and knocking over amps does not make you cool, it makes you look petulant and a bit thick, and it was no different here. It left a bitter taste in the mouth in what capped a disappointing night for the ‘Parade. Still, they’re an amazing band, and ‘Fire Walk With Me’ was bloody amazing to hear as always.
2/5


However the best was certainly left ‘til last as headliners Bill Davro played the set of the night. They were happy and it showed through their songs. Just pure joy radiated from them and the crowd fed off it. Songs like ‘Winter Is Over’ and ‘All She Requires’ just physically made you want to dance, and they did. They didn’t have the biggest crowd, shamefully, but they had the best set. They even threw in an un-ironic cover of ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’ and made it work. Bill Davro wanted one thing from the crowd and one thing only; for them to have a good time. And they did. Pure unadulterated joy.
5/5